DRDO has invited Indian companies to develop and produce missile and guided bomb systems under a new private industry partnership model.

The invitation came through an Expression of Interest issued by DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat. Companies that respond will be assessed and shortlisted as potential Development Cum Production Partners.

Those that make the cut won’t get a contract immediately. Instead, they move into a pool that DRDO can then invite to bid on specific projects as they come up.

The last date to submit proposals is 24 September, with a technical discussion scheduled for 2 September. To even qualify, firms need to clear a fairly high bar.

DRDO wants companies with at least Rs 100 crore in annual turnover, a net worth above Rs 34 crore, and a track record of profit in at least two of the last five years.

They also need a decent credit rating, an ISO or similar quality certification, and the right licences to handle explosives, since these projects involve live weapons systems.

This shift matters because strategic weapon production in India has traditionally sat with public sector firms such as Bharat Dynamics.

Opening it up to private players is part of a broader push to bring more manufacturers into defence production and speed up how quickly new systems move from the drawing board to actual deployment.

Names like Solar Defence and Aerospace and Tata Advanced Systems are widely seen as likely contenders given their existing defence manufacturing base.

Solar Industries, the parent of Solar Defence and Aerospace, reported a strong June quarter this year, with revenue up 70.3% to Rs 3,668 crore and net profit rising 92.6% to Rs 653 crore.

The company’s order book stood at Rs 21,350 crore as of August. DRDO has made clear that responding to this invitation does not guarantee a contract, and the organisation retains the right to change or withdraw the process at any point.

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